Vehicle seat interlock system

ABSTRACT

A seat interlock system for use with a vehicular seat having a fold-down seatback equipped with a deployable integral child seat. An interlock mechanism is interdisposed between a seatback latching mechanism and a child seat latching mechanism. When the seatback is in its normal upright and latched condition, the interlock mechanism permits the child seat to be deployed. If the seatback is not latched, a movable member of the interlock mechanism prevents deployment of the child seat. Upon deployment of the integral child seat, the movable member interacts with the seatback latching mechanism in such a way as to prevent the seatback from being unlatched, thereby preventing folding of the seatback. The seat interlock system also includes an inertia responsive latching mechanism for preventing deployment of the integral child seat when the seatback is subject to a deceleration force exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat interlock system for a vehicleseat having a folding seatback equipped with an integral child seat. Theseat interlock system is operative to prevent deployment of the integralchild seat when the seatback is unlatched from its upright position andis further operable to prevent the seatback from being unlatched whenthe integral child seat is deployed.

Virtually all motor vehicles are equipped with safety belt restraintsystems for physically restraining the seat occupant when the vehicle issubjected to a high rate of deceleration which may occur, for example,during a motor vehicle collision or severe braking. While conventionalsafety belt restraint systems are well-suited for restraining adultpassengers, it is a common practice to use a portable (i.e., "add-on")child seat having a belt-type harness for children under a given age andweight. For instance, most portable child seats are rated for childrenweighing forty pounds or less and are generally recommended for use withchildren under the age of four years. As is known, such portable childseats are placed on top of the vehicle seat and secured thereto usingthe existing vehicular safety belt restraint system.

In an effort to minimize the inconveniences associated with installingand/or stowing portable child seats, some vehicles are equipped with"integral" child seats that are built into the seatback of the vehicleseat. Typically, such integral child seats include a cushioned panelthat is rotatably mounted to the seatback. In a stowed position, thecushioned panel forms a portion of the adult seatback. However, when theintegral child seat is deployed, the cushioned panel forms a horizontalseat cushion that is adapted to support a child occupant seated thereon.Additional components of the integral child seat (i.e., belt harness,retractor, etc.) may also be included in the seatback.

It is also known to use a seating arrangement for the rear seat in motorvehicles that incorporates one or more fold-down seatback panels toprovide enhanced access to the rear storage or trunk area. In suchseating arrangements, the fold-down seatback panel is pivotally mountedat its lower end for rotation between an upright position and aforwardly folded position. When the seatback panel is articulated to itsfolded position, the rear seating area communicates with the spacebehind the seatback panel, effectively merging the trunk or storage areaand the rear seating area. Conventionally, such fold-down seatbackpanels include a seatback latch mechanism that is operable for lockingthe seatback panel in its upright position and which must be selectivelyactuated to release the seatback panel for subsequent movement to itsfolded position.

As will be appreciated, motor vehicles equipped with seats having one ormore deployable-type integral child seats are extremely popular in viewof the enhanced conveniences provided. However, the operationalrequirements of an integral child seat can potentially conflict with theoperational requirements of a fold-down seatback panel. As such,interlock systems have been developed which function to operably couplethe seatback latch mechanism to the integral child seat. In operation,the interlock system prevents deployment of the integral child seat whenthe seatback panel is unlatched in addition to preventing release of thefold-down seatback panel when the integral child seat is deployed.Unfortunately, development of a common fold-down seatback panel for usewith and without integral child seats has heretobefore been problematicsince such arrangements typically require that extensive modificationsbe made of the seatback latch mechanism due to incorporation of theinterlock system. Furthermore, when installation of a seat having afold-down seatback equipped with an integral child seat is desired,multiple components associated with the interlock system must beoperatively installed within the vehicle before the seat can beinstalled.

In view of the above, a need clearly exists to develop a vehicle seathaving a deployable-type integral child seat built into a foldableseatback panel which overcomes the shortcomings of known constructionsand yet which can be readily adapted for use in various vehicularseating applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide animproved seat interlock system for a vehicle seat of the type includinga fold-down seatback that can be selectively rotated from an uprightposition to a forwardly folded position to provide access to the spacerearward of the seatback. The fold-down seatback is equipped with anintegral child seat which can be articulated between a stowed positionconcealed in the seatback and a deployed position.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a seatinterlock system operative to prevent deployment of the integral childseat unless the fold-down seatback is latched in its upright position.Likewise, it is also an object of the present invention for the seatinterlock system to prevent the fold-down seatback from being releasedfrom its upright position when the integral child seat is deployed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seatinterlock system equipped with an inertia responsive latching mechanismthat is operative to prevent deployment of the integral child seat whenthe fold-down seatback is latched in its upright position and thevehicle seat is subjected to an inertial force exceeding a predeterminedthreshold value which may occur, for example, during a frontal impact ora severe braking situation.

These and other objects are provided by an interlock system for avehicle seat which includes a fold-down seatback equipped with anintegral child seat. The interlock system is operative for coordinatingactuation of a seatback latching mechanism and a child seat latchingmechanism. In a presently preferred embodiment, a first movable latchelement associated with the seatback latching mechanism is operablyinterconnected via an interlock mechanism to a second movable latchelement associated with the child seat latching mechanism. Thus,movement of the first latch element between a latched position and areleased position results in movement of the second latch elementbetween a released position and a latched position. By coordinating themovement of the latch elements, minimal, if any, redesign of aconventional seatback latching mechanism is required. As a result, whenan integral child seat is desired as an option, a seatback constructedin accordance with the present invention can be quickly and easilyinstalled during vehicle manufacture without the need to independentlyinstall multiple components attached to the body structure.

The present invention is directed to a seat interlock system for aseatback module. The seatback module includes a panel assembly that isadapted to be mounted within the motor vehicle for articulation betweenan "upright" position and a forwardly rotated or "folded" position. Theseatback module further includes an integral child seat mounted to thepanel assembly for articulation between a "stowed" position and a"deployed" position. The interlock system includes a first latchingmechanism operatively arranged for releasably latching the panelassembly in its upright position. The seat interlock system furtherincludes a second latching mechanism mounted for movement with the panelassembly and which is operably arranged for selectively latching theintegral child seat to the panel assembly to prevent deployment of theintegral child seat. The seat interlock system further includes aninterlock mechanism operably interconnecting the first and secondlatching mechanisms and which is operable for selectively prohibitingconcurrent movement of the panel assembly and deployment of the integralchild seat. Finally, the seatback module is additionally equipped with athird latching mechanism. The third latching mechanism is inertiaresponsive for automatically preventing deployment of the integral childseat when the vehicle is subjected to a deceleration force exceeding apredetermined threshold value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from analysis of the following writtenspecification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a rear seating area in anexemplary motor vehicle illustrating a rear seat incorporating a pair offold-down seatback modules constructed in accordance with the teachingsof a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view of one of the fold-downseatback modules shown in FIG. 1, with upholstery and cushions removedfor clarity, showing its underlying seatback panel assembly in an"upright" position and the integral child seat in a "deployed" position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the seatback panelassembly in the "upright" position and the integral child seat in a"stowed" position;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the seatback panel assembly shownin FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is another partially exploded perspective view of the seatbackpanel assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the componentsassociated with the seat interlock system in greater detail;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views showing components of the child seatlatching mechanism and the inertia responsive latching mechanism ingreater detail;

FIGS. 7A through 7C represent a series of partially cut-away views ofthe fold-down seatback module illustrating the interlock system when thepanel assembly is released from its upright position and the integralchild seat is latched in its stowed position (FIG. 7A), when theseatback panel assembly is latched in its upright position and theintegral child seat is initially released from its stowed position (FIG.7B), and when the seatback panel assembly is latched in its uprightposition and the integral child seat is moved to a fully deployedposition (FIG. 7C);

FIGS. 8A through 8C represent a series of views corresponding with theviews of FIGS. 7A through 7C and illustrating the operative connectionbetween the seatback latching mechanism and a portion of the interlockmechanism;

FIGS. 9A through 9C represent a series of views, corresponding with theviews of FIGS. 8A through 8C, further illustrating the operativeconnection between the interlock mechanism with the seatback latchingmechanism; and

FIG. 10A through 10C represent a series of views, corresponding with theviews of FIGS. 7A through 7C, illustrating the interconnection betweenthe interlock mechanism and child seat latching mechanism in greaterdetail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is directed to a seat interlock system for avehicle seat having a fold-down seatback equipped with a deployableintegral child seat. More specifically, the present invention disclosesa seat interlock system which is particularly well-suited for use inmotor vehicle rear seat applications having an enclosed trunk area thatis separated from a rear seating area by the fold-down seatback.However, it is to be understood that while the present invention ishereinafter disclosed in association with the particular vehicle seatingarrangement shown, such use is merely an exemplary representation of thegeneral type of environment in which the present invention may beincorporated. For example, the present invention is also well-suited foruse with rear bench seats of the type commonly used in vans and sportutility vehicles.

Referring now generally to the drawings in which like elements areidentified with identical reference numerals throughout, andparticularly to FIG. 1, a rear seat 10 for a passenger-type motorvehicle is shown. Rear seat 10 is shown to include a seat cushion 12 anda seatback 14. Seatback 14 includes a pair of fold-down seatback panels16 that are pivotably mounted to structural portions of the vehicle. Asshown, seatback panels 16 are installed in a rear seating area 18 of thevehicle so as to be located forward of a trunk storage area 20 and aboveseat cushion 12. Seatback panels 16 are particularly well-adapted forincorporation into rear seating applications wherein the motor vehiclehas a rear package shelf 22. However, as will become apparent during theremainder of this detailed description, the present invention is notlimited to use with rear seat systems having a package shelf 22.Further, those skilled in the art will understand that rear seat 10 mayalternatively be assembled with only one fold-down seatback panel 16 ifso required for a particular seating application.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, each seatback panel 16 will beunderstood to be mounted to the motor vehicle for pivotal movementbetween an "upright" position adjacent to package shelf 22 and aforwardly "folded" position adjacent to seat cushion 12. Each seatbackpanel 16 includes an integral child seat 24 having a backrest 26 and aseat 28 that are interconnected together for coordinated movementbetween a "stowed" position and a "deployed" position. As shown, seat 28includes a first or lower cushion 28A and a second or upper cushion 28Bthat are flexibly connected together. However, this construction ismerely exemplary since seat 28 could be a single fold-down cushion or,in the alternative, also include a fold-up headrest in combination withthe fold-down cushion. Regardless, the novel features of this inventionare clearly applicable to use with virtually any type of integral childseat.

One of seatback panels 16 (shown on the left side of FIG. 1) isillustrated latched in its upright position with its correspondingintegral child seat 24 extended to its deployed position. In contrast,the other seatback panels 16 (shown on the right side of FIG. 1), isillustrated in its folded position with its corresponding integral childseat retained in its stowed position. As such, folding of seatback panel16 permits access between rear seating area 18 and trunk storage area20. Thus, trunk storage area 20 is extended for additional storage or toaccommodate items that may otherwise not fit therein. For example, ahockey stick 29 is illustrated to extend between trunk storage area 20and rear seating area 18.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, each seatback panel 16 is shownincorporated into a recess formed between one of a pair of end cushions30 and a central cushion 32. Each fold-down seatback panel 16 is furthershown to include a seatback cushion 34 and a headrest 36. Seatbackcushion 34 includes a pair of lateral side bolster segments 38 connectedby a common upper bolster segment 40 which together define a recessedopening 42 within which seat 28 and backrest 26 of integral child seat24 are disposed for movement between their respective deployed andstowed positions. With seatback panel 16 in its upright position andintegral child seat 24 stowed, lower and upper cushions 28A and 28B areconfined within recessed opening 42 for establishing a continuous backsupport surface with seatback cushion 34, its adjacent end cushion 30,and central cushion 32. Upon deployment of integral child seat 24, seat28 is lowered and backrest 26 is caused to concurrently move to areclined position. Such deployment causes side bolsters 38 of seatback34 to extend forwardly of end cushion 30 and center cushion 32 incoordination with movement of backrest 26 to its reclined position toprovide lateral support to a child retained thereon. A harness-typerestraint 44 is exposed upon deployment of integral child seat 24 andincludes retractable belts 44A on which tongue plates 44B are supportedfor releasably engaging a buckle component 44C.

Prior to turning to the details of the construction and operation of theseat interlock system of the present invention, a further understandingof fold-down seatback panel 16 with which the seat interlock system isspecifically adapted to cooperate is warranted. To more clearlyillustrate the novel structure and operational features of the presentinvention, one of seatback panels 16 is shown in FIGS. 2 through 10 withits child restraint components removed as well as its upholstery andpadding. Fold-down seatback panel 16 is a modular assembly including apanel assembly 46 which is adapted to be pivotably mounted to theexisting or modified frame structure or chassis of the motor vehicle.Preferably, pivot brackets 48 are fixed to the lower lateral edges ofpanel assembly 46 and are each pivotably connected via a hinge member 50to suitable mounting structure within the vehicle. It will beappreciated that modifications, reinforcements and/or additions may bemade to panel assembly 46 and/or to the vehicle mounting structure forthe purpose of providing adequate load carrying and load transfercharacteristics. Depending on the particular seating application,integral child seat 24 can be stowed entirely within upholsteredseatback cushion 34 or within a portion of trunk storage area 20 locatedimmediately rearward thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, integral child seat 24 is illustrated toinclude a seat frame 54, a backrest frame 56, and a movementcoordinating mechanism 55 that is operable for coordinating theconcurrent movement of backrest frame 56 (and backrest 26) in responseto movement of seat frame 54 (and seat 28) as integral child seat 24 ismoved between its fully deployed position (FIG. 2) and its stowedposition (FIG. 3). According to its most basic function, movementcoordinating mechanism 55 is operable such that pivotal movement of seatframe 54 from its raised position (FIG. 3) to its lowered position (FIG.2) is adapted to cause concurrent pivotal movement of backrest frame 56from a generally vertical position when integral child seat 24 is in itsstowed position to an angled or reclined position when integral childseat 24 is in its deployed position. Obviously, movement coordinatingmechanism 55 provides for the reverse movement of the components whenintegral child seat 24 is raised from its deployed position to itsstowed position.

Seat frame 54 is located within lower cushion 28A of seat 28 and isshown to include a rigid seat pan 58 attached to a U-shaped tubularframe member 60. Each free end of U-shaped tubular frame member 60 isflattened and is fixedly secured to one end of a mounting bracket 64,the other end of which is secured via a hinge pin 66 to a flange segment68 of a lower pivot bracket 70 that is secured to panel assembly 46. Asbest seen from FIG. 4, lower pivot bracket 70 includes bracket segments72 having mounting holes 74 that are alignable with mounting holes 76 onpanel assembly 46 for receipt of suitable fasteners. Backrest frame 56includes a rigid back support pan 78 that is attached to a pair oflaterally-spaced swing arms 80. Each swing arm 80 is pivotally attachedat its uppermost end via a hinge pin 82 to an angled flange segment 84of an upper pivot bracket 86. Upper pivot bracket 86 is secured to panelassembly 46 via fasteners extending through aligned mounting holes 88and 90.

As noted, movement coordinating mechanism 55 is provided for couplingbackrest frame 56 to seat frame 54. In particular, the lower end of eachswing arm 80 is formed to include an elongated guide slot 92. A roller94 mounted on a follower pin 96 extends outwardly from each lateral edgeof seat frame 54 and is retained for sliding movement within acorresponding guide slot 92. As such, pivotal "fold-out" movement ofseat frame 54 relative to panel assembly 46 about lower hinge pins 66results in concurrent pivotal movement of backrest frame 56 about upperhinge pins 82 due to sliding movement of rollers 94 in guide slots 92.Swing arms 80 are disposed within side bolsters 38 of seatback cushion34 for causing fore and aft movement thereof in response to pivotalmovement of backrest frame 56. Panel assembly 46 is further shown toinclude a headrest mounting bracket 98 have apertures 100 for receivingthe posts (not shown) of headrest 36. It will further be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the particular underlying frame structureof integral child seat 24 is merely exemplary. That is, differingconstruction and arrangement of the components for integral child seatsare possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the preferred embodiment, a seat interlock system 102 isoperable for preventing deployment of integral child seat 24 when panelassembly 46 is not securely latched to a first or seatback latchingmechanism 104 in its upright position. As will be detailed, seatbacklatching mechanism 104 includes: a latch assembly 106 mounted to shelf18; a striker assembly 108 fixed to panel assembly 46 and which isengageable with latch assembly 106 for locking seatback panel 16 in theupright position; and a release mechanism 110 for permitting selectiverelease of seatback panel 16 from its upright position. Thus, seatbacklatching mechanism 104 is operable in a "locked" mode for holdingseatback panel 16 in its upright position and in an "unlocked" mode forpermitting seatback panel 16 to be folded. Moreover, seat interlocksystem 102 includes a second or child seat latching mechanism 112 whichfunctions in a "latched" mode for mechanically locking integral childseat 24 in its stowed position in response to actuation of releasemechanism 110 for shifting seatback latching mechanism 104 from itslocked mode to its unlocked mode. Child seat latching mechanism 112further functions in a "released" mode for permitting deployment ofintegral child seat 24 when seatback latching mechanism 104 is shiftedto its locked mode. As will also be detailed, child seat latchingmechanism 112 includes a latch assembly 114 mounted to panel assembly 46that is selectively engageable with a striker 116 mounted to seatbackframe 56. Interlock system 102 also includes an interlock mechanism 118operably interconnecting latch assembly 106 of seatback latchingmechanism 104 to latch assembly 114 of child seat latching mechanism 112to coordinate shifting thereof between their respective modes in themanner hereinafter detailed. Finally, seat interlock system 102 includesan inertia-responsive latching mechanism 120 that is operative forautomatically securing integral child seat 24 in its stowed positionwhen the motor vehicle is subjected to significant deceleration forces.

As noted, seatback latching mechanism 104 preferably includes latchassembly 106 and striker assembly 108. Latch assembly 106 and strikerassembly 108 are operatively arranged for releasably locking panelassembly 46 in its upright position adjacent rear package shelf 22. Asillustrated, latch assembly 106 includes a housing 122 which is fixedlysecured to a forward edge of rear package shelf 22. Striker assembly 108is shown to include a U-shaped striker bar 124 that is fixed to abacking plate 126. Backing plate 126 is, in turn, attached to panelassembly 46 via fasteners 127 driven through alignable mounting bores128 and 130 such that striker bar 124 extends through an elongatedaperture 132 in panel assembly 46. In the embodiment illustrated, anaperture spacer plate 134 is interdisposed between panel assembly 46 andbacking plate 126.

As best seen from FIGS. 9A-9C, latch assembly 106 is shown to include alatching element in the form of a locking pawl 136 which cooperates witha spring-biased cam plate 138 for releasably retaining U-shaped strikerbar 124 within a lock slot 140 formed in locking pawl 136. Moreparticularly, locking pawl 136 is mounted within housing 122 for pivotalmovement about a pivot pin 142. A biasing mechanism (not shown) normallybiases locking pawl 136 in a first direction (i.e., counterclockwise inFIGS. 9A-9C). Cam plate 138 is likewise mounted for pivotal movementabout a pivot pin 144 and is normally biased by a biasing mechanism (notshown) in a direction toward locking pawl 136 for maintaining engagementof a detent projection 146 with portions of a profiled outer surface oflocking pawl 136. Pawl 136 is movable about pivot pin 142 between anunlatched position shown in FIG. 9A whereat striker bar 124 is releasedfrom lock slot 140 and cam plate detent projection 146 rides on asurface segment 148 of locking pawl 136, and the latched positions shownin FIGS. 9B and 9C whereat striker bar 124 is positioned within lockslot 140 and detent projection 146 is located in or adjacent to a detentgroove 150 on locking pawl 136. Moreover, its spring biasing mechanismnormally urges locking pawl 136 toward its unlatched position of FIG.9A. As will be detailed, FIG. 9B illustrates the latched position oflocking pawl 136 when integral child seat 24 is in its stowed positionand FIG. 9C illustrates the latched position of locking pawl 136 whenintegral child seat 24 is in its deployed position.

To facilitate movement of locking pawl 136 from its latched position(FIG. 9B) to its released position (FIG. 9A), release mechanism 110includes a bowden cable 152 connecting cam plate 138 to amanually-operable spring-biased release handle 154. As such, actuationof release handle 154 operates to move cable 152 which, in turn,forcibly rotates cam plate 138 away from locking pawl 136 for permittingits biasing mechanism to move locking pawl 136 to its released position.As will be detailed below, locking pawl 136 includes a forwardlyextending pawl extension 156 which cooperates with interlock mechanism118 for prohibiting deployment of integral child seat 24 when lockingpawl 136 is in its unlatched position as well as for prohibiting releaseof seatback panel 16 unless integral child seat 24 is returned to itsstowed position. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe pawl and cam arrangement of latch assembly 106 is generallyconventional in construction with the exception of providing pawlextension 156.

As best seen from FIGS. 5, 6A-6B, and 7A-7C, latch assembly 114 of childseat latching mechanism 112 is shown mounted to seatback panel 16 and isoperative via interlock mechanism 118 for releasably maintainingintegral child seat 24 in its stowed position when seatback latchingmechanism 104 is unlatched. Child seat latching mechanism 112 is shownto include latch assembly 114 having a hooked lock plate 160 pivotallymounted to panel assembly 46 and striker 116 that is mounted to integralchild seat 24. In the embodiment illustrated, hooked lock plate 160 ispivotally attached to a mounting bracket 162 through a pivot pin 164 andfastener 166. Mounting bracket 162 is fixedly secured to panel assembly46. Lock plate 160 includes a distal hooked portion 168 configured to beselectively engageable with striker 116. As will be detailed, latchedengagement of striker 124 within lock slot 140 of locking pawl 136causes locking pawl 136 to rotate from its unlatched position (FIG. 9A)to its latched position (FIG. 9B) in opposition to the biasing exertedthereon. Such rotation of locking pawl 136 causes interlock mechanism118 to forcibly rotate lock plate 160 from a latched position whereatdistal hooked portions 168 captures striker 116 to a released positionwhereat hooked portion 168 is displaced from striker 116. Accordingly,such action results in child seat latching mechanism 112 being shiftedfrom its latched mode into its released mode so as to permit subsequentdeployment of integral child seat 24. Conversely, with integral childseat 24 in its stowed position, release mechanism 110 can be actuated torelease striker 124 from lock slot 140, whereby locking pawl 136 is freeto rotate in the first direction to its unlatched position. This, inturn, causes interlock mechanism 118 to rotate lock plate 160 from itsunlatched position to its latched position, thereby preventingdeployment of integral child seat 24 after seatback panel 16 isreleased.

Hooked lock plate 160 is further illustrated to include a cam follower172 extending therefrom that is adapted to cooperate with a cam plate174 carried by backrest frame 56 of integral child seat 24. Preferably,cam plate 174 is located close to striker 116 and is mounted on swingarm 80. Functionally, cam plate 174 is adapted to engage cam follower172 to forcibly rotate hooked lock plate 160 upwardly when integralchild seat 24 is moved outwardly from its stowed position toward itsdeployed position. Such action is shown in FIG. 6B. Moreover, due to theconnection of seatback latching mechanism 104 to child seat latchingmechanism 112 via interlock mechanism 118, such movement of lock plate160 causes coordinated movement of locking pawl 136 from its firstlatched position shown in FIG. 9B to its second latched position shownin FIG. 9C for maintaining striker bar 128 in locked engagement withinlock slot 140.

Interlock mechanism 118 is illustrated to include a means forcoordinating selective operation of seatback latching mechanism 104 andchild seat latching mechanism 112. In particular, interlock mechanism118 includes a slide plate 176 operably associated with locking pawl136, a connecting rod 178 having one of its ends 180 mounted in anaperture 182 in lock plate 160, and a bell crank device 184interconnecting slide plate 176 to a second end 186 of connecting rod178. Slide plate 176 is mounted for horizontal sliding movement relativeto panel assembly 46 by a retainer 188. Retainer 188 has an aperture 190through which striker 124 extends and is mounted to striker assembly 108via fasteners 127 extending through mounting holes 191. Slide plate 176includes a body segment 192 having a generally rectangular aperture 194for receiving pawl extension 156 of locking pawl 136 therein.Rectangular aperture 194 is partially defined by first and second stopsurfaces 196 and 198. A neck segment 200 of slide plate 176 includes anelongated aperture 202 to facilitate pivotal and sliding attachment tobellcrank device 184 as will become apparent below.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 10A-10C, bellcrank device 184 isillustrated as having a two-part construction including an innerbellcrank link 204 and an outer bellcrank link 206. Inner and outerlinks 204 and 206 are pivotally mounted for rotation about a common axisdefined by a cylindrical pivot post 208 extending through an aperture210 formed in panel assembly 46. As shown, inner link 204 is formed toinclude a first end 212 having an aperture 214 sized for journallyreceiving pivot post 208. Outer link 206 is generally C-shaped andincludes an aperture 216 for journally receiving pivot post 208. Acylindrical drive post 220 extends from an intermediate portion of outerlink 206 and is adapted to be retained within elongated aperture 202 inslide plate 176. A second end 222 of inner link 204 is resilientlyinterconnected with an upper end 224 of outer link 206 by a helical coilspring 226 which functions to normally bias link ends 222 and 224 to apredetermined spaced-apart relationship through balancing of the forcebetween the link ends 222 and 224. Helical coil spring 226 isprecompressed to accommodate tolerance stacks. In addition, helical coilsprings 226 functions to limit the amount of force transferred bybellcrank device 184.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, a torsion spring 230 surrounds aportion of pivot post 208 and has a first leg 232 engaging a projection234 on panel assembly 46 and a second leg 236 engaging an upper surfaceof inner link 204. As such, torsion spring 230 functions to normallybias bellcrank device 184 in a clockwise direction. Rod 178interconnects bellcrank device 184 and latch assembly 114 of child seatlatching mechanism 112 via its connection between an aperture 240 ininner link 204 and aperture 182 formed in hooked lock bar 160. A shield242 is attached to panel assembly 46 through fasteners 244 and functionsto conceal the moving parts of bellcrank device 184. A threaded fastener246 passes through an aperture 248 in shield 208 and engages acorrespondingly threaded bore 250 formed in the terminal end of pivotpost 208 for retaining the components of interlock mechanism 118 intheir assembled orientation.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, interlock system 102 isshown to also include inertia responsive latching mechanism 120 forprohibiting deployment of integral child seat 24 under certain highdeceleration conditions when integral child seat 24 is in its stowedposition and child seat latching mechanism 112 is unlatched. Inertialatching mechanism 120 includes a weighted latch member 260 which ismounted to mounting bracket 162 via a pivot pin 262 and fastener 264 andwhich is normally biased by gravity toward a released position shown inFIG. 6B. When rotated to its locked position, a hooked end 266 of latchmember 260 captures a striker plate 268 carried by backrest frame 56 ofintegral child seat 24.

As illustrated, latch member 260 includes a hooked segment 270 and acounterweighted segment 272. The center of gravity, schematicallyidentified by symbol 274, of latch member 260 is located above andrearward of (i.e., offset) the rotational axis defined by pivot pin 262.More specifically, the center of gravity 274 is located relative topivot pin 262 such that gravitational force normally urge latch member260 to be maintained in its released position, thereby permittingunrestricted deployment of integral child seat 24 when panel assembly 46is latched. However, when a deceleration force is applied to seatbackpanel 16 that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, such as during afrontal impact or severe braking situation, the resulting inertial forcecauses latch member 260 to rotate counterclockwise (FIGS. 6A and 6B)about pivot pin 262 to its locked position. When rotated to this lockedposition, latch member 260 captures striker plate 268 and prohibitsdeployment of integral child seat 24 until the excessive decelerationforces are eliminated and latch member 260 normally returns to itsreleased position.

With initial reference to FIGS. 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, the cooperatingcomponents of interlock system 102 of the present invention are shownwith panel assembly 46 unlatched and integral child seat 24 locked inits stowed position. In FIG. 8A, panel assembly 46 is shown rotatedslightly from its upright position so that extension 156 of locking pawl136 is displaced from slide plate 176. Further, slide plate 176 isshifted rightwardly due to the biasing force exerted thereon by torsionspring 230. Resultantly, bellcrank device 184 is shown in FIG. 10A tohave been rotated clockwise and rod 178 is displaced downwardly, therebycausing corresponding pivotal movement of hooked lock plate 160 into itslatched position. As a result, child seat latching mechanism 112 isplaced in its latched mode in response to seatback latching mechanism104 being shifted into its unlocked mode, thereby releasing seatbackpanel 16 for folding movement and concurrently prohibiting deployment ofintegral child seat 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 7B, 8B, 9B and 10B, panel assembly 46 has beenrotated to and latched in its upright position. Thus, the components ofseat interlock system 102 are illustrated with panel assembly 46 in itslatched position and integral child seat 24 in its stowed position.Specifically, seatback latching mechanism 104 is operating in its lockedmode and child seat latching mechanism 112 is operating in its releasedmode. As panel assembly 46 is articulated upward toward its uprightorientation, striker 124 of striker assembly 108 engages locking pawl136 causing it to rotate in a second direction (i.e., clockwise) to itslatched position shown in FIG. 9B. Striker 124 is now retained withinlock slot 140, thereby preventing articulation of panel assembly 46 fromits upright position to its folded position. As seen, detent projection146 of cam plate 138 is positioned within detent notch 150 of lockingpawl 136 to maintain locked engagement therebetween. When locking pawl136 is moved to its latched position, pawl extension 156 extends withinaperture 194 of slide plate 176 and engages first stop surface 196 andforcibly moves slide plate 176 leftwardly in opposition to the biasingexerted thereon by bellcrank assembly 184. With locking pawl 136 in itslatched position, bellcrank device 184 is rotated counterclockwise aboutpivot 208, thereby causing rod 178 to shift upwardly and move hookedlock plate 160 to its first released position. Integral child seat 24 isnow permitted to be deployed, if so desired. However, if integral childseat 24 remains stowed, release mechanism 110 can be activated throughmanual actuator 154 to rotate cam plate 138 and thereby permit lockingpawl 136 to again move to its unlatched position for releasing striker124 from lock slot 140.

With specific reference to FIGS. 6B, 7C, 8C, 9C and 10C, panel assembly46 is latched in its upright position and integral child seat 24 hasbeen fully deployed. When integral child seat 24 is moved from itsstowed position to its fully deployed position, cam plate 174 engagescam follower 172 on lock plate 160 and forcibly rotates lock plate 160clockwise, as shown in FIG. 6B. Such rotation of lock plate 160 servesto upwardly displace rod 178 which, in turn, causes leftward movement ofslide plate 176 through counterclockwise rotation of bellcrank device184. In addition, such rotation of lock plate 160 displaces rod 178rightwardly (as shown in FIG. 6B) so that aperture 182 is shiftedovercenter with respect to the pivot axis of lock plate 160. As aresult, downward force from rod 178 will not permit lock plate 160 torotate counterclockwise. With slide plate 176 moved leftward, secondstop surface 198 engages pawl extension 156, thereby prohibitingmovement of locking pawl 136 to its unlatched position until integralchild seat 24 is first returned to its stowed position.

With continued reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the operation of theinertia responsive latching mechanism 120 of the present invention willnow be described. When panel assembly 46 is in its latched position andintegral child seat 24 is in its stowed position, deployment of integralchild seat 24 is normally permitted. However, the inertia responsivelatching mechanism 120 functions to prevent deployment of integral childseat 24 when seatback panel 16 is subject to excessive decelerationforces. Thus, inertial responsive latching mechanism 120 functions toprohibit deployment of integral child seat 24 under high decelerationcircumstances.

When integral child seat 24 is moved from its deployed position to itsstowed position, striker plate 268 engages an underside of latch member260 and forcibly rotates latch member 260 to its latched position. Whenthe deceleration forces diminish below the predetermined minimum, latchmember 260 rotates back to its released position as movement of integralchild seat 24 from its stowed position is initiated, thereby permittingdeployment of integral child seat 24. While one particular type ofpivoting latch-type inertial responsive mechanism has been disclosed, itwill be appreciated that any suitable inertial-sensitive locking deviceis an equivalent device thereto within the fair scope of this invention.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a presently preferredembodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readilyrecognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings andclaims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An interlock system for a vehicular seat adaptedto be secured to mounting structure in the motor vehicle and having aseat cushion, a fold-down seatback panel supported for movement betweenan upright position and a folded position, and an integral child seatbuilt into the seatback panel for movement between a stowed position anda deployed position, said interlock system comprising:a first latchingmechanism operable in a locked mode for releasably locking the seatbackpanel in the upright position and in an unlocked mode for permittingmovement of the seatback panel from the upright position to the foldedposition, said first latching mechanism including a first striker membersecured to one of the seatback panel and the mounting structure and afirst latch member supported on the other of the seatback panel andmounting structure for movement between a first position whereat saidfirst striker member is lockingly retained by said first latch memberfor establishing said locked mode and a second position whereat saidfirst striker member is released from locked engagement with said firstlatch member for establishing said unlocked mode; a second latchingmechanism operable in a latched mode for locking the integral child seatin the stowed position and in a released mode for permitting movement ofthe integral child seat from the stowed position to the deployedposition, said second latching mechanism including a second strikermember secured to the integral child seat and a second latch membersupported on the seatback panel for movement between a third positiondisplaced from said second striker member for establishing said releasedmode and a fourth position engaging said second striker bar forestablishing said latched mode; an interlock mechanism operablyinterconnecting said first and second latching mechanisms for shiftingsaid second latching mechanism from its latched mode into its releasedmode in response to said first latching mechanism being shifted from itsunlocked mode into its locked mode, and said interlock mechanism furthercausing said second latching mechanism to be shifted from its releasedmode to its latched mode in response to said first latching mechanismbeing shifted from its locked mode to its unlocked mode, said interlockmechanism including a first interlock member that is selectivelyengageable with said first latch member, a second interlock memberconnected to said second latch member, and a coupling deviceinterconnecting said first interlock member to said second interlockmember for coordinating movement therebetween, whereby movement of saidfirst latch member from said second position to said first positioncauses said second latch member to move from said fourth position tosaid third position so as to secure the seatback panel in its uprightposition and permit deployment of the integral child seat, and movementof said first latch member from said first position to said secondposition causes said second latch member to move from said thirdposition to said fourth position so as to release the seatback panel formovement toward its folded position with the integral child seat securedin its stowed position; and a third latching mechanism operable forreleasably locking the integral child seat in the stowed position whenthe vehicular seat is subjected to a deceleration force in excess of apredetermined threshold value.
 2. The interlock system of claim 1further comprising a release mechanism for permitting said first latchmember to be selectively moved from said first position to said secondposition when the seatback panel is in its upright position to releasethe seatback panel for subsequent movement to its folded position. 3.The interlock system of claim 1 wherein said third latching mechanism isan inertia-responsive latching mechanism including a third latch membersupported on the seatback panel for movement relative to a third strikermember mounted on the integral child seat, said third latch member beingnormally biased toward an unlatched position displaced from said thirdstriker member for permitting unrestricted deployment of said integralchild seat from the stowed position, said third latch member is adaptedto move to a latched position capturing said third striker member inresponse to a deceleration force being exerted thereon having amagnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold value for inhibitingdeployment of the integral child seat from the stowed position.
 4. Theinterlock system of claim 1 wherein said coupling device is a bellcrankhaving a first link and a second links, said first interlock member is aslide plate secured to said first link of said bellcrank and having anaperture defining first and second stop surfaces within which a portionof said first latch member extends, wherein said second interlock memberis a rod secured to said second link of said bellcrank device, andwherein said first and second links are pivotably mounted to theseatback panel for pivotal movement about a common pivot post with abiasing spring disposed between free ends of said first and secondlinks, and wherein said interlock mechanism further comprises a secondbiasing spring acting on said bellcrank for normally biasing said secondlatch member toward said fourth position.
 5. The interlock system ofclaim 4 wherein movement of said first latch member to said firstposition causes said first latch member to engage said first stopsurface of said slide plate for causing concurrent movement thereof in afirst direction which in turn pivots said bellcrank in opposition to thebiasing exerted thereon by said second biasing spring for moving saidrod in a first direction and moving said second latch member into saidthird position.
 6. The interlock system of claim 5 wherein said secondlatching mechanism further includes a cam follower secured to saidsecond latch member and a cam plate secured to said second strikermember such that movement of the integral child seat from its stowedposition to its deployed position causes said cam plate to engage saidcam follower and pivot said second latch member from said third positionto a fifth position causing concurrent movement of said rod in saidfirst direction such that said bellcrank pivots for moving said slideplate to a position whereat said second stop surface forcibly engagessaid first latch member.
 7. A vehicular seat adapted to be secured tomounting structure in the motor vehicle comprising:a seat cushion; aseatback panel supported for movement between an upright position and afolded position; a seatback latching mechanism operable in a locked modefor securing said seatback panel to the mounting structure when saidseatback panel is in said upright position and in an unlocked mode forpermitting movement of said seatback panel from said upright position tosaid folded position, said seatback latching mechanism including a firststriker member secured to one of said seatback panel and the mountingstructure and a first latch member supported on the other of saidseatback panel and mounting structure for movement between a firstposition whereat said first striker member is lockingly retained by saidfirst latch member for establishing said locked mode and a secondposition whereat said first striker member is released from lockedengagement with said first latch member for establishing said unlockedmode; an integral child seat built into said seatback panel for movementbetween a stowed position and a deployed position; a child seat latchingmechanism operable in a latched mode for locking said integral childseat in said stowed position and in a released mode for permittingmovement of said integral child seat from said stowed position to saiddeployed position, said child seat latching mechanism having a secondstriker member secured to said integral child seat and a second latchmember supported on said seatback panel for movement between a thirdposition displaced from said second striker member for establishing saidreleased mode and a fourth position engaging said second striker bar forestablishing said latched mode; an interlock mechanism operablyinterconnecting said seatback latching mechanism to said child seatlatching mechanism for shifting said child seat latching mechanism fromits latched mode into its released mode in response to said seatbacklatching mechanism being shifted from its unlocked mode into its lockedmode, and said interlock mechanism causing said child seat latchingmechanism to be shifted from its released mode to its latched mode inresponse to said seatback latching mechanism being shifted from saidlocked mode to said unlocked mode, said interlock mechanism having afirst interlock member that is selectively engageable with said firstlatch member, a second interlock member connected to said second latchmember, and a bellcrank device interconnecting said first interlockmember to said second interlock member for coordinating movementtherebetween, whereby movement of said first latch member from saidsecond position to said first position causes said second latch memberto move from said fourth position to said third position so as to securesaid seatback panel in its upright position and permit deployment ofsaid integral child seat, and movement of said first latch member fromsaid first position to said second position causes said second latchmember to move from said third position to said fourth position so as torelease said seatback panel for movement toward its folded position withsaid integral child seat secured in said stowed position; and an inertiaresponsive latching mechanism operable for releasably locking saidintegral child seat in said stowed position when the vehicular seat issubjected to a deceleration force in excess of a predetermined thresholdvalue.
 8. The vehicular seat of claim 7 further comprising a releasemechanism for permitting said first latch member to be selectively movedfrom said first position to said second position when said seatbackpanel is in its upright position to release said seatback panel forsubsequent movement to its folded position.
 9. The vehicular seat ofclaim 7 wherein said inertia-responsive latching mechanism includes athird latch member supported on said seatback panel for movementrelative to a third striker member mounted on said integral child seat,said third latch member being normally biased toward an unlatchedposition displaced from said third striker member for permittingunrestricted deployment of said integral child seat from said stowedposition, said third latch member adapted to move to a latched positioncapturing said third striker member in response to a deceleration forcebeing exerted thereon having a magnitude exceeding said predeterminedthreshold value for inhibiting deployment of said integral child seatfrom said stowed position.
 10. The vehicular seat of claim 7 whereinsaid first interlock member is a slide plate secured to a first link ofsaid bellcrank device and having an aperture defining first and secondstop surfaces within which a portion of said first latch member extends,wherein said second interlock member is a rod secured to a second linkof said bellcrank device, and wherein said first and second links arepivotably mounted to said seatback panel for pivotal movement about acommon pivot post with a biasing spring disposed between free ends ofsaid first and second links, and wherein said interlock mechanismfurther comprises a second biasing spring acting on said bellcrankdevice for normally biasing said second latch member toward said fourthposition.
 11. The vehicular seat of claim 10 wherein movement of saidfirst latch member to said first position causes said first latch memberto engage said first stop surface of said slide plate for causingconcurrent movement thereof in a first direction which in turn pivotssaid bellcrank device in opposition to the biasing exerted thereon bysaid second biasing spring for moving said rod in a first direction andmoving said second latch member into said third position.
 12. Thevehicular seat of claim 11 wherein said child seat latching mechanismfurther includes a cam follower secured to said second latch member anda cam plate secured to said second striker member such that movement ofsaid integral child seat from its stowed position to its deployedposition causes said cam plate to engage said cam follower and pivotsaid second latch member from said third position to a fifth positioncausing concurrent movement of said rod in said first direction suchthat said bellcrank device pivots for moving said slide plate to aposition whereat said second stop surface forcibly engages said firstlatch member.
 13. A fold-down seatback panel for use in a motor vehiclecomprising:a panel assembly mounted to the motor vehicle forarticulation between a generally upright position and a forwardly foldedposition; an integral child seat mounted to said panel assembly forarticulation between a stowed position and a deployed position; and aninertia responsive latching mechanism operatively arranged between saidpanel assembly and said integral child seat for preventing deployment ofsaid integral child seat when the seatback panel is subject to adeceleration force exceeding a predetermined threshold value, saidinertia responsive latching mechanism including a movable latch memberattached to one of said panel assembly and said integral child seat anda striker member attached to the other said panel assembly and saidintegral child seat, said latch member being movable from an unlatchedposition displaced from said striker member to a latched positionlockingly engaging said striker member in response to a decelerationforce exceeding said threshold value being exerted thereon.
 14. Theseatback panel of claim 13 wherein said latch member is rotationallyinterconnected with said panel assembly and said striker member issecured to said integral child seat.
 15. The seatback panel of claim 13wherein said striker member urges said movable latch member to itslatched position as said integral child seat is moved to its stowedposition.
 16. An interlock system for a vehicular seat adapted to besecured to mounting structure in the motor vehicle and having a seatcushion, a fold-down seatback panel supported for movement between anupright position and a folded position, and an integral child seat builtinto the seatback panel for movement between a stowed position and adeployed position, said interlock system comprising:a first latchingmechanism operable in a locked mode for releasably locking the seatbackpanel in the upright position and in an unlocked mode for permittingmovement of the seatback panel from the upright position to the foldedposition; a second latching mechanism operable in a latched mode forlocking the integral child seat in the stowed position and in a releasedmode for permitting movement of the integral child seat from the stowedposition to the deployed position; an interlock mechanism operablyinterconnecting said first and second latching mechanisms for shiftingsaid second latching mechanism from its latched mode into its releasedmode in response to said first latching mechanism being shifted from itsunlocked mode into its locked mode, and said interlock mechanism furthercausing said second latching mechanism to be shifted from its releasedmode to its latched mode in response to said first latching mechanismbeing shifted from its locked mode to its unlocked mode; and aninertia-sensitive latching mechanism operable for releasably locking theintegral child seat in the stowed position when the vehicular seat issubjected to a deceleration force in excess of a predetermined thresholdvalue, said inertia-responsive latching mechanism including a latchmember supported on the seatback panel for movement relative to astriker member mounted on the integral child seat, said latch memberbeing normally biased toward an unlatched position displaced from saidstriker member for permitting unrestricted deployment of said integralchild seat from the stowed position, and wherein said latch member ismovable to a latched position for capturing said striker member inresponse to a deceleration force being exerted thereon having amagnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold value for inhibitingdeployment of the integral child seat from the stowed position.
 17. Avehicular seat adapted to be secured to mounting structure in the motorvehicle comprising:a seat cushion; a seatback panel supported formovement between an upright position and a folded position; a seatbacklatching mechanism operable in a locked mode for securing said seatbackpanel to the mounting structure when said seatback panel is in saidupright position and in an unlocked mode for permitting movement of saidseatback panel from said upright position to said folded position; anintegral child seat built into said seatback panel for movement betweena stowed position and a deployed position; a child seat latchingmechanism operable in a latched mode for locking said integral childseat in said stowed position and in a released mode for permittingmovement of said integral child seat from said stowed position to saiddeployed position; an interlock mechanism operably interconnecting saidseatback latching mechanism to said child seat latching mechanism forshifting said child seat latching mechanism from its latched mode intoits released mode in response to said seatback latching mechanism beingshifted from its unlocked mode into its locked mode, and said interlockmechanism causing said child seat latching mechanism to be shifted fromits released mode to its latched mode in response to said seatbacklatching mechanism being shifted from said locked mode to said unlockedmode; and an inertia responsive latching mechanism operable forreleasably locking said integral child seat in said stowed position whenthe vehicular seat is subjected to a deceleration force in excess of apredetermined threshold value, said inertia-responsive latchingmechanism having a latch member supported on said seatback panel formovement relative to a striker member mounted on said integral childseat, said latch member being normally biased toward an unlatchedposition displaced from said striker member for permitting unrestricteddeployment of said integral child seat from said stowed position, saidlatch member movable to a latched position for capturing said strikermember in response to a deceleration force being exerted thereon havinga magnitude exceeding said predetermined threshold value for inhibitingdeployment of said integral child seat from said stowed position.